Saturday, November 24, 2012

Christmastime: How Dareth Thou?

Ahhhhh. It's that time of the year. The time that the leaves are falling from the trees, signaling the arrival of fall, quickly followed by winter and Christmas. But hark, who goes there? Christians celebrating the coming of the Messiah? What? That cannot be! Who dares to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ; the greatest Miracle ever?

The chiding actually started on Facebook around Halloween time. I saw a scattering of posts deriding believers (in name only or actually true Christians) for joining in the celebration and festivities of Halloween, then quickly followed with "Yeah, they are the same ones that celebrate the pagan holiday of Christmas too". I admit, I never heard of the "pagan holiday of Christmas" until I joined Facebook a few years ago and had the privilege of coming across those that thought this way. Never did I know that I was bowing down to a idol when I set up a tree, put decorations around the house or gave gifts to people that I love. I was ignorant of such things being "pagan" and quickly learned that I may not actually be a Christian if I did, indeed, celebrate Christmas.

Wow! I was actually in shock and started doing some research. It seems that the celebration of Christ's birth was celebrated before moving the date to December 25th and was moved to that date to try and dissuade pagans from celebrating a false idol and instead show them who the true God is. So, the argument became "You celebrate a pagan ritual/ celebration of a sun god" and anyone who celebrates Christmas was indeed taking part in worshiping that god and there was no way that they could celebrate the coming of the Savior on that day. I wrote on some of this last year and just recently found out that I was incorrect in something, the celebrations by Christians was not an "alternative" to the sun-god worship. The celebration of Christ's birth was already taking place, only the date was changed to coincide with December 25th's pagan celebration.

I am still in the mindset I was last year: Christmas has been commercialized to a very high degree by the fallen culture we live in. Now, what do Christians do with that? Do they not celebrate Christmas because the lost society has "paganized" it? Or do Christians continue to celebrate the coming of the Savior? I'd say the latter, but with the assumption that everything situated around the holiday is Christ focused and honoring. So, pretty much the same as any other day of the year for a follower of Christ, but with one small bonus- We get the chance to actually tell others and show others what Christmas really is. We get a "free ticket" to be able to interject the story of Christmas and therefor tell why Jesus came to this Earth in the first place - to save sinners like us. We get a chance to tell the Gospel to folks that would normally not give you the time or day to do so.

Now, what about those that want to tell me that I am "participating in pagan sun-god worship"? I say: "Really?" These folks are under some very bad misunderstandings. I would like to know the process that leads someone to this viewpoint. I would like to know why they use pagan ways (Windows/ Bill Gates product or Mac OS/ Steve Jobs product) daily in bible study, work or entertainment and see nothing wrong with that. How can you shop at stores that have pagan owners, have pagan workers and buy pagan products and yet condemn a Christian (true or not) for celebrating Christ's birth? How can you call today Saturday when it is named after Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture? Or even venture out of your house on Sunday since that day was named after the Sun? I am not trying to throw a red-herring or straw-man in the mix, but simply show that many things around us may be "pagan" but that doesn't mean that we are pagan.

Take the Christmas season to show the love of Christ. If you choose not to celebrate Christmas, for whatever reason, then don't. Don't call someone a pagan because they do and I won't call you a Pharisee for trying to impose laws that are not there. Christ came to save us from sin. He lived a sinless and perfect life to atone for our sins. He died and shed His blood to wash us clean and I will tell that in any way I can, as much as I can, to whoever I can....... Even on December 25th.

3 comments:

Many people that I know, don't necessarily have a problem with Christmas itself, but the Christmas tree. Apparently there is a passage in Scripture that calls Christmas trees "idol worship." I had not come across this passage until a few weeks ago, whenever it was called to my attention.

Jeremiah 10 says "“Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest,and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.5 Like scarecrow in a cucumber field,their idols cannot speak;they must be carried because they cannot walk.Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”

I can somewhat see how they could understand that to be Christmas trees, but in context this passage is clearly not speaking about Christmas trees, but the carving of idols being fastened to posts and being worshiped instead of the true and living God.

Matthew Henry's commentary said the following about this passage: "The prophet shows the glory of Israel's God, and exposes the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain supernatural help, or to pry into futurity, are copied from the wicked customs of the heathen. Let us stand in awe, and not dare provoke God, by giving that glory to another which is due to him alone. He is ready to forgive, and save all who repent and believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. "

In fact, I have yet to find a single commentary relating this passage to a Christmas tree. My advice for those who are using this as the basis for not having a tree, need to read the chapter before and after that one.

We enjoy the Christmas decorations, putting up the tree,and for us they are a fun way of spending time together as a family, where God gives us opportunities to share with our kids what God has been doing in our lives. (We should make the most of every opportunity regardless of what we are doing to share Christ with them.)

Now obviously, the Lord has redirected us in many ways in regards to how we have been celebrating Christmas, and this is a good opportunity to share the love of Christ with family, friends, and complete strangers. I also believe we should be doing this all year long. That's where the issue is for many. They only think about giving a couple of weeks out of the whole year. I probably have a lot more thoughts on the topic, but I'm afraid my comment may end up longer than your blog post. :)

Many people that I know, don't necessarily have a problem with Christmas itself, but the Christmas tree. Apparently there is a passage in Scripture that calls Christmas trees "idol worship." I had not come across this passage until a few weeks ago, whenever it was called to my attention.

Jeremiah 10 says "“Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest,and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.5 Like scarecrow in a cucumber field,their idols cannot speak;they must be carried because they cannot walk.Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”

I can somewhat see how they could understand that to be Christmas trees, but in context this passage is clearly not speaking about Christmas trees, but the carving of idols being fastened to posts and being worshiped instead of the true and living God.

Matthew Henry's commentary said the following about this passage: "The prophet shows the glory of Israel's God, and exposes the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain supernatural help, or to pry into futurity, are copied from the wicked customs of the heathen. Let us stand in awe, and not dare provoke God, by giving that glory to another which is due to him alone. He is ready to forgive, and save all who repent and believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. "

In fact, I have yet to find a single commentary relating this passage to a Christmas tree. My advice for those who are using this as the basis for not having a tree, need to read the chapter before and after that one.

We enjoy the Christmas decorations, putting up the tree,and for us they are a fun way of spending time together as a family, where God gives us opportunities to share with our kids what God has been doing in our lives. (We should make the most of every opportunity regardless of what we are doing to share Christ with them.)

Now obviously, the Lord has redirected us in many ways in regards to how we have been celebrating Christmas, and this is a good opportunity to share the love of Christ with family, friends, and complete strangers. I also believe we should be doing this all year long. That's where the issue is for many. They only think about giving a couple of weeks out of the whole year. I probably have a lot more thoughts on the topic, but I'm afraid my comment may end up being longer than your blog post. :)

Many people that I know, don't necessarily have a problem with Christmas itself, but the Christmas tree. Apparently there is a passage in Scripture that calls Christmas trees "idol worship." I had not come across this passage until a few weeks ago, whenever it was called to my attention.

Jeremiah 10 says "“Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest,and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.5 Like scarecrow in a cucumber field,their idols cannot speak;they must be carried because they cannot walk.Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”

I can somewhat see how they could understand that to be Christmas trees, but in context this passage is clearly not speaking about Christmas trees, but the carving of idols being fastened to posts and being worshiped instead of the true and living God.

Matthew Henry's commentary said the following about this passage: "The prophet shows the glory of Israel's God, and exposes the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain supernatural help, or to pry into futurity, are copied from the wicked customs of the heathen. Let us stand in awe, and not dare provoke God, by giving that glory to another which is due to him alone. He is ready to forgive, and save all who repent and believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. "

In fact, I have yet to find a single commentary relating this passage to a Christmas tree. My advice for those who are using this as the basis for not having a tree, need to read the chapter before and after that one.

We enjoy the Christmas decorations, putting up the tree,and for us they are a fun way of spending time together as a family, where God gives us opportunities to share with our kids what God has been doing in our lives. (We should make the most of every opportunity regardless of what we are doing to share Christ with them.)

Now obviously, the Lord has redirected us in many ways in regards to how we have been celebrating Christmas, and this is a good opportunity to share the love of Christ with family, friends, and complete strangers. I also believe we should be doing this all year long. That's where the issue is for many. They only think about giving a couple of weeks out of the whole year. I probably have a lot more thoughts on the topic, but I'm afraid my comment may end up being longer than your blog post. :)

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I'm just the lowly voice of a wretched sinner, brought to a saving grace through Jesus Christ. A very small voice to a sinful society thats beliefs are very twisted.
My blog will be used to share a biblical view of what I see going on in my life, my city, my nation and my world. God has shown me mercy unbound through Christ, beyond that it's all waiting until that glorious day when He returns. Until then - I WILL BOLDY PROCLAIM HIS WORD!